Active headwear for detachably mounting an imaging device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a mounting system and method for securing an imaging device to active headgear. In one embodiment, the mounting system includes a headwear frame to which can be attached a head strap to form a diving mask. A digital camera or a video recorder can be secured to an attachment base in the mounting system to allow use thereof in a hands-free operating mode.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/670,692, entitled “Eyewear with Provision forDetachably Mounting an Imaging Device,” filed Jul. 12, 2012,incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for securing animaging device to active headwear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Commercially-available headwear, such as a diving mask 10 shown in FIG.1, does not include provisions for integrating cameras. The diving mask10 includes an eye frame 12 and an attachment strap 14. The eye frame 12serves to retain lenses 16, 18, but are otherwise featureless and haveno provision for the attachment of an accessory.

Recent attempts to provide for cameras or other imaging devices within,or on, goggles or masks have had limited success. In such headwear, thecameras are usually attached to the frame of the goggle or mask, eitherin a frontal configuration, or on the temples. But cameras are notreadily attached to such goggle or mask frames. Moreover, when theactive headwear is a fashionable item whose designs are important, thereare substantial design tradeoffs involved with providing or attachingcameras or other imaging devices. For example, published U.S. PatentApplication 2008/0192114 “Wearable Waterproof Camera” of Pearson et al.,discloses the placement of a camera inside a compartment, where thecompartment unit snaps on or attaches to head-adapted gear such aseye-protective head-gear of various proportions.

There remains a need for an improved active headwear system having amount adapter for detachably mounting an imaging device, such as adigital camera or video recorder, so as to allow the wearer full andfree use of his or her hands, while supporting the imaging device foroperation when desired.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a mounting assembly, suitablefor securing an imaging device to the head of a user comprises: aheadwear frame configured for placement over the face of the user, theheadwear frame having a first mounting rim disposed at a first side ofthe headwear frame and a second mounting rim disposed at a second sideof the headwear frame; and an attachment base, the attachment baseincluding at least two engagement tabs configured to mate with a cameramount, the attachment base further including a first clamp configured tomate with the first mounting rim and a second clamp configured to matewith the second mounting rim.

In another aspect of the present invention a mounting assembly, suitablefor securing an imaging device to the head of a user comprises: anattachment base integrated with a headwear frame configured forplacement over the face of the user, the attachment base including atleast two engagement tabs configured to mate with a camera mount.

The additional features and advantages of the disclosed invention areset forth in the detailed description which follows, and will beapparent to those skilled in the art from the description or recognizedby practicing the invention as described, together with the claims andappended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an example of active headwear, in accordance with the presentstate of the art;

FIG. 2 is an isometric diagrammatical illustration of a headwear framefrom an active headwear apparatus, in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is an isometric diagrammatical illustration of the headwear frameof FIG. 2 mated with an attachment base to form a mounting assembly;

FIG. 4 is another isometric diagrammatical illustration of the mountingassembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the attachment base of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the attachment base of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the attachment base of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is another isometric view of the attachment base of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 9 is a front view of the headwear frame and attachment base of FIG.3 with an imaging device attached to the attachment base.

FIG. 10 is an isometric diagrammatical illustration of a front view ofan integrated headwear frame and attachment base with an imaging deviceattached to the attachment base.

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the integrated headwear frame and attachmentbase of FIG. 10 with an imaging device attached to the attachment base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

“Active headwear” refers to eyeglasses, goggles, masks, or other objectsworn over the eyes.

“Imaging device” refers to a digital camera, a video recording device, aportable projector, and the like.

“Fastener” refers to mechanical components that fasten, join, connect,secure, hold, or clamp parts together. Fasteners include, but are notlimited to, screws, nuts and bolts, rivets, snap-fits, and the like.

“Mounting” includes, but is not limited to, joining, connecting,fastening, linking, coupling, or associating two parts together.

“Configure” includes the designing, arranging, setting up, or shapingwith a view to specific applications or uses.

The present invention relates generally to a mounting system forattaching an imaging device to active headwear (e.g., diving mask). Inone embodiment, the mounting system includes a headwear frame to whichcan be attached a head strap to form a diving mask. A digital camera ora video recorder can be secured to an attachment base in the mountingsystem to allow use thereof in a hands-free operating mode.

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a headwear frame 20 suitable forattachment to a wearer's head using a head strap or a headband (notshown). The headwear frame 20 includes a right lens frame 22 attached toa left lens frame 24 by a nosepiece 26. The right lens frame 22 mayinclude a right mounting rim 32 with a through hole 34 having apre-specified diameter. Similarly, the left lens frame 24 may include aleft mounting rim 36 with a through hole 38. The right lens frame 22 andthe left lens frame 24 may be sized and shaped to accommodate a set ofcommercially-available lenses or inserts, including prescription lenses.

The headwear frame 20 is adapted to support and removably retain anattachment base 40, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The attachment base 40 issized and configured to support and removably retain an imaging device(shown in FIG. 9), such as a digital camera or a video recorder. Theattachment base 40 may be removably secured to the headwear frame 20 bya first fastener 28 passing through the attachment base 40 and the rightmounting rim 32, and a second fastener 28 passing through the attachmentbase 40 and the left mounting rim 36. The combination of the attachmentbase 40, the fasteners 28, and the headwear frame 20 comprise a mountingassembly 50.

In an embodiment, the attachment base 40 may include a right clamp 42 atone end of a lateral beam 44, and a left clamp 46 at the other end ofthe lateral beam 44, as shown in FIGS. 5-8. A through hole 48 may beprovided in the right clamp 42 and the left clamp 46 so as toaccommodate a mechanical fastener (not shown), as understood in therelevant art. Two or more engagement tabs 52 and a retainer engagementtab 54 may be provided on the lateral beam 44 between the right clamp 42and the left clamp 46. In an exemplary embodiment, the engagement tabs52 may be located at a midpoint on the lateral beam 44. The engagementtabs 52 and the retainer engagement tab 54 are spaced apart so as todefine open transverse slots 62 suitable for the insertion of a cameramount (as best seen in FIG. 9), for example.

The retainer engagement tab 54 may include a boss 56 with a recess 58(hexagonal recess shown) configured to hold a fastening device, such asa threaded nut (not shown). Each of the engagement tabs 54 may include athrough hole 64, where the through holes 64 line up with the recess 58.This configuration allows for the insertion of a threaded fastener (notshown) into the through holes 64 so as to mate with the threaded nutheld in the recess 58, as is well-known in the relevant art.

The right clamp 42 may include a right front depending tab 72 and aright back depending tab 74 configured to engage the right mounting rim32 (shown in FIG. 2). The right front depending tab 72 may include aright front spacer 76, and the right back depending tab 74 may include aright back spacer 78. It can be appreciated that the through hole 48 isconfigured to pass through the right front depending tab 72, the rightfront spacer 76, the right back spacer 78, and the right back dependingtab 74. The right front spacer 76 and the right back spacer 78 define anaxial gap 70 of sufficient size to allow insertion of the right mountingrim 32.

Preferably, when the right mounting rim 32 is inserted into the axialgap 70, the through hole 34 lines up with the through hole 48 so as toallow for the insertion of a mechanical fastener (not shown), and thusretain the right clamp 42 on the right mounting rim 32. The left clamp46 is similarly configured (not shown for clarity of illustration) so asto allow placement of the left mounting rim 36 into the left clamp 46such that the through hole 38 lines up with the through hole 48 in theleft clamp 46. The placement of the left mounting rim 36 into the leftclamp 46 thus allows for the insertion of a mechanical fastener (notshown) into the through hole 48 and the through hole 38, and thus retainthe left clamp 46 on the left mounting rim 36.

As shown in FIG. 9, the headwear frame 20 may provide for installationof a right lens 82, a left lens 84, and the attachment of a strap (notshown) to produce a diving mask 80, for example. The attachment base 40can be secured to the diving mask 80 by (1) aligning the right clamp 42with the right mounting rim 32, (2) aligning the left clamp 46 with theleft mounting rim 36, (3) securing a first base fastener 92 in the rightclamp 42, and (4) securing a second base fastener 92 in the left clamp46.

An imaging device 90 may be secured to the attachment base 40, where theimaging device 90 includes a camera mount 94 configured to mate with theengagement tabs 52 and the retainer engagement tab 54. After the cameramount 94 has been mated with the engagement tabs 52 and the retainerengagement tab 54, a fastener (not shown) may be placed through boss 56,retainer engagement tab 54 and engagement tabs 52 using through holes 64(not shown) to more positively secure the imaging device 90 to thediving mask 80.

Another embodiment of the invention, where the headwear frame andattachment base are integrated (i.e., not separable), with an imagingdevice attached to the attachment base, is shown in FIG. 10 (frontview). Mounting assembly 100 includes frame 102 and a right lens frame104 attached to a left lens frame 106 by a nosepiece 108. Two or moreengagement tabs 110 and adjacent retainer engagement tab 112, includinga boss 114 configured to hold a fastening device, may be provided at thetop of the nosepiece 108. Each of the engagement tabs 110 may include athrough holes 116 (shown in FIG. 11). This configuration allows for theinsertion of a threaded fastener (not shown) into the through holes, asis well-known in the relevant art.

Imaging device 118 includes a camera mount 120 configured to mate withthe engagement tabs 110 and retainer engagement tab 112. The imagingdevice is secured to the mounting assembly 100 after camera mount 120has been mated with the engagement tabs 110 and the retainer engagementtab 112 by placing a threaded fastener (not shown) into through holes116 to more positively secure the imaging device 118 to mountingassembly 100.

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the integrated headwear frame and attachmentbase shown in FIG. 10. Imaging device 118 includes a camera mount 120configured to mate with engagement tabs 110 and retainer engagement tab112. The imaging device is secured to mounting assembly 100 by means ofa threaded fastener (not shown) placed into through holes 116 throughengagement tabs 110 and retainer engagement tab 112. Boss 114 isincluded on retainer engagement tab 112. Mounting assembly 100 furtherincludes frame 102, a right lens frame 104, a left lens frame 106, and anosepiece 108 that attaches right lens frame 104 to left lens frame 106.

It is to be understood that the description herein is exemplary of theinvention only and is intended to provide an overview for theunderstanding of the nature and character of the disclosed illuminationsystems. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of various features and embodiments of the method anddevices of the invention which, together with their description serve toexplain the principles and operation of the invention.

1-9. (canceled)
 10. A mounting assembly, suitable for securing animaging device to the head of a user, said mounting assembly comprising:an integrated headwear frame and attachment base, wherein said headwearframe is configured for placement over the face of the user, and whereinsaid attachment base includes at least two engagement tabs, and whereinthe engagement tabs are configured to mate with a camera mount. 11.(canceled)
 12. The mounting assembly of claim 10, wherein saidattachment base further has a retainer engagement adjacent to the atleast two engagement tabs.
 13. The mounting assembly of claim 12,wherein the engagement tabs and the retainer engagement tab are spacedapart so as to define open transverse slots suitable for the insertionof a camera mount.
 14. (canceled)
 15. The mounting assembly of claim 13,wherein the engagement tab comprises a boss with a recess configured tohold a fastening device.